French President Emmanuel Macron adopts pet dog Nemo

French president Emmanuel Macron has welcomed a new member into his entourage – a young dog called Nemo.

President Macron appeared with France’s new “first dog” on Monday after adopting him from a rescue shelter over the weekend.

Nemo is a black male “Griffiondor”, a cross between a Labrador retriever and wirehaired pointing griffon, and aged between one and two years old, Standard UK reports.

According to the Elysee Palace’s press team, Nemo was named after Captain Nemo, the fictional hero of French writer Jules Verne’s “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” – one of President Macron’s favourite books.

French President Macron outside the palace with his new pet. (REUTERS)

The young dog was pictured carrying out the first of its official duties on Monday to greet Mahamadou Issoufou, the president of Niger on the palace steps.

Nemo stayed back while the French leader embraced his Niger counterpart before the two presidents headed indoors with the dog following behind.

Since the 1970s, all French presidents have owned Labrador dogs.

President Macron’s predecessor, François Hollande, had a female Labrador called Philae.